Published on: May 22, 2026, at 02:13h.
Updated on: May 22, 2026, at 02:13h.
- Three individuals charged in fatal Harrah’s Cherokee kidnapping scheme
- Incendiary vehicle in Spartanburg linked to interstate robbery and homicide plan
- Federal charges expose casino meetup allegedly utilized to ensnare victim
Nearly a year after a burned vehicle containing a body was found in a secluded area of Spartanburg County, S.C., federal officials assert that the death resulted from a far-reaching kidnapping and robbery conspiracy.
This week, a federal grand jury has indicted three suspects — Elisa Marie Rosario, 33; Jeremy Todd Lark, alias “Jeremy Abdul Wakil Jones,” 42; and Kezayvian Lee Campbell, 19 — regarding the June 2025 murder of Mequez Bernard Geer, 34, from Anderson, S.C.
Geer, a father of six, was reportedly enticed to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, N.C., under false pretenses by Rosario, according to the indictment. It is alleged that the suspects sought to steal Geer’s cash, jewelry, mobile phone, and a rented 2025 Hyundai Genesis.
While Rosario allegedly coaxed Geer to the casino, Lark and Campbell were reportedly stationed at a Roebuck home, equipped with firearms, latex gloves, and a mask intended for the heist.
Tragic Deception
After spending time together at the casino, Rosario purportedly persuaded Geer to take her to a remote location where the other suspects were positioned. The indictment claims that Campbell then exited Lark’s vehicle and entered Geer’s rented car.
According to prosecutors, the suspects, operating in two cars, abducted and robbed Geer, subsequently transporting him over state lines into South Carolina. During the incident, it is alleged that Geer was fatally shot.
At approximately 11:55 p.m. the next night, local authorities responded to reports of a vehicle ablaze, inside which they discovered Geer’s incinerated remains.
Federal investigators pieced together the alleged plot through mobile phone records, vehicle movements, and tangible evidence collected from both North and South Carolina.
Prosecutors assert that the defendants communicated with Geer prior to the rendezvous at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, used vehicles linked to the crime, and later disposed of the victim’s personal items along roads in Sylva and Spartanburg County.
Serious Charges
The trio faces multiple charges, including robbery, kidnapping resulting in death, interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, evidence destruction or concealment to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice itself.
The indictment also accuses Rosario of providing false information to FBI agents during the investigation. If found guilty, all three could face life imprisonment.
“The actions of these individuals exemplify a sinister plot that crossed state boundaries and led to a tragic loss of life,” stated U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling. “Our sympathies are with the victim’s family as we pursue justice.”